The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1887-05-12
DREAM FACES.
Why They Game to a Really Hap
by Woman.

There was not happier woman In all
Doltshire than Mrs. Birdy. She had, how
ever, every reason to be happy. She was
young and in easy circumstances; she had
a husband who was fondly attached to her;
she had a pretty, prattling daughter OF
three, who was the pet and pleasure of
their home, and she had few enemies and
many friends. A woman so situated must
be Of very disconnected disposition il she
be not satisfied.
Mrs. Birdy's lot had been cast in pleasant
places ever since she remembered. Though
she had never known her father or mother
they, as she had been informed, died
while she was an infant-yet she had been
brought up surrounded by more than pa
rental love and care Her maternal uncle,
Rev. DIR. Fullalove and his wife-childless
themselves-had taken her as their child,
and with that kindness and gentleness
which they showed in every act and
thought of their innocent lives had watched
over infancy and girlhood. They brought
her up fearing God, but without fear, low
ing her neighbors and plying the poor
And when young Squire Birdy took Ger
trude Thresher from home where love and
duty ruled 1t was only TO install her in
another presided over by the same house
hold gods Never was woman happy in
her maidenhood so happy in her marriage.
There was only one thing that marred to
any extent her otherwise perfect felicity
from the time she could first remember she
was afflicted with horrible dreams. Bad
dreams as every one knows, are common
cause Of misery in early childhood but Ger
trude's differed from those which usually
afflict young children in this respect, that
they were all the same-all mere repetitions
of the one frightful vision. 1t was this:
Two hideous faces appeared to her, one
male, the other female. Both were con-
vulsed with ferocious rage. They glared
at her in a demouiacal way for a moment or
two, then suddenly the mans arm appeared,
and in his hand was whip raised TO strike
her. AS the lash fell she invariably awoke
with a scream of agony and fear
When she first remembered this dream it
was Of so constant recurrence that 1t made
sleep terror to her. AS she grew older
and stronger it gradually troubled her less.
After her marriage, and more especially
after the birth OF her little girl when new
duties and new affections drew away her
mind and attention from herself, it almost
ceased to annoy her. Yet still it did from
time to time return, and when it did SO 1t
was in every respect the same dream as af
flicted her childhood-the same wicked
faces, the same arm raised to strike, the
same fierce lash, and the same awakening
with a scream OF horror.
When she was child she often talked to
her kind old aunt Mrs. Fullalove, about the
dream and wondered how it happened that
she dreamed it so often. AT first the wears
wife youchsafed no explanation, but as Ger
trude grew up the old lady told her how, i'm
mediately after her parents death, she had
had a severe illness. 1t was during the de-
lirium which accompanied it that she was
first heard to utter that cry for pity to which
they were now abused. Mrs. Fullalove said
that she believed Gertrudeis horrible dream
was but q survival, as it were, of that delu-
sion of her illness. The more Gertrude
thought over her aunt's explanation the
more likely did it seem. Her dream GER
tainly appeared to her more TO resemble
delusion than vision.
Squire Birdy had been from home for
few days when one morning, his business
being finished, he came hurrying back to
Braxby Grange. The moment his wife
heard the wheels OF his carriage she came
running out to meet him. Before the first
embrace was over the Squire looked at Ger
trude in surprise
'why, Gerty, my DEAR he said, ''you
seem very unwelln'
ION the contrary" she said, with what
he saw was an effort to be lighthearted--
ION the contrary, Stephen am very well. .
'You don't look it," answered Stephen,
with shake of his head.
He gazed steadily at her for moment.
"Gerty." he said, you're not yourself.
all 4, ~.
Gertrude did not reply
ssWon't you tell me, Gerty!n he asked.
$40, there's dear, good wife,,
ats nothing, Stephen, l assure you,n she
said; sits only that have been dreaming
of those horrid faces again"
.sYou little goose" cried her husband,
gaily, playfully pinching her ear, sis that
all. You're nice girl to brighten the life
out OF us all over a dream. Why don't YOU
get it out OF your headlp
~ wish / could"
sBoo-ooi You're little goosep
Whether Gertrude was little goose OF
not, there was no doubt that her dream had
upset her for the day. Do what she would
she could not forget it, She tried hard tC
do so when her husband was with her, and
to appear gay and lively, but her efforts
were such miserable failure that sht
thought it was better to keep as much oui
OF his company as possible. She was
therefore. glad when he told her that he
had to 20 to board meeting and would bs
absent for Some few hours.
That afternoon Gertrude was sitting in
shady garden seat, close to the Grange av
enue. She was sewing, and her littl,
daughter was playing about on the grass
The day was calm and sultry, with brigh
sun and cloudless sky. Every thing abon
her was full Of peace, and her troubled mint
was feeling the influence Of its surround
ings.
She had been seated for some time: he
little daughter was sporting out Of he
view, beyond the bushes which shaded th
seat. when Gertrude heard voice. 1t wa
awomnn's, and evidently was speaking u
the child.
Here's the butterfly It said. "Opei
your little hand Yes, that's it. Nowp
"Ta, ta, said the child.